German howitzer destroyed?

Russia gives figures on Ukraine damage - now the comparison is possible

Created: 12/29/2022 11:31 am

By: Felix Durach

Ukrainian soldiers operate a German 155mm FH70 howitzer in the Zaporizhia region (archive image).

© Dmytro Smolienko/imago-images

The Russian military leadership has given figures on losses in Ukraine.

German equipment was also destroyed.

Moscow — A good ten months ago, Russia invaded its neighboring country, starting the Ukraine war.

Since then, bitter fighting for the upper hand has been raging in large parts of eastern and southern Ukraine.

Battles that repeatedly result in significant casualties on both sides.

Both with the deployed soldiers, as well as with heavy war equipment and equipment.

The Ukrainian military leadership publishes new alleged figures on Russian losses almost every day.

Moscow is a little more covered.

On Wednesday, however, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov spoke about current data.

His report of success also related to German military deliveries - at the same time it allowed a comparison with the information from Ukraine.

War in Ukraine: Russian military leadership gives figures on Ukrainian losses

"In total, since the beginning of the military special operation, the following targets have been destroyed: 352 combat aircraft, 192 helicopters, 2,734 unmanned aerial vehicles, 399 surface-to-air missile systems, 7,282 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 950 multiple rocket launchers, 3,737 field artillery pieces and mortars," the military said.

Konashenkov also spoke of an additional 7,792 military vehicles destroyed since the start of the so-called "military special operation" in February.

He did not give figures on the losses among the soldiers of the Ukrainian army.

German howitzer destroyed: Shoigu spokesman announces recent Russian successes

Konashenkov also reported on the recent achievements of the Russian army.

The troops managed to destroy three artillery pieces in the Donetsk region within 24 hours.

It is said to have been two US M777 and a German FH70 howitzer.

The howitzers shelled residential areas in the Donetsk region.

This information cannot be independently verified.

The FH70 howitzer is a comparatively old weapon system that was used by several NATO countries.

report

, some of the howitzers provided by Germany for Ukraine were produced in 1979.

However, this does not limit the function.

In addition to the FH70 howitzers, the German government also supplied the modern Panzerhaubitze 2000 to the Ukrainian army.

According to their own statements, the Russian armed forces had already destroyed a Gepard anti-aircraft tank that had just been delivered from Germany at the end of August.

Comparison possible: Russia reported enemy losses in the Ukraine war

The numbers reported by Moscow should be viewed with caution due to a lack of verification.

In war, the announcement of own and enemy losses also serves propaganda purposes.

A high number of enemy casualties can contribute to increasing morale in your own ranks and weakening the enemy's morale.

The same applies to the Russian losses reported by Ukraine, which are announced daily by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Twitter.

Nevertheless, the new Russian figures allow a comparison to be made for the first time in a long time:

Source: Russian casualties: Ministry of Defense of Ukraine;

Ukrainian losses: TASS

Comparing the reported losses, no clear trend can be seen.

According to data from the two warring parties, Ukraine has destroyed significantly more armored vehicles of the Russian army than it has lost its own.

In return, Moscow reports more than twice as many destroyed multiple rocket launchers as Kyiv.

In addition to the destroyed weapons, however, damaged and defective systems also complete the picture.

It was not until the beginning of December that the Ukrainian military leadership complained about the high level of wear and tear on the weapons used in the war.

Ukraine War: Offensive efforts stagnate on both sides

While the reported numbers cannot be verified, they fit with recent developments on the battlefield.

The progress of both warring parties is currently stagnating there.

The Russian army has not been able to carry out any successful offensive actions for months and is currently limited to shelling the Ukrainian energy supply and the metropolises.

And the Ukrainian counter-offensive has come to a standstill after large territorial gains in the Kharkiv region and the recapture of the city of Cherson.

Massive attacks on major Ukrainian cities also took place on Thursday.

According to Ukrainian sources, Russia launched a 120-missile attack on Ukrainian infrastructure.